1968: A Chaotic Year Begins with the Rose Bowl
January 1, 1968, kicked off one of the most tumultuous years in American history. It’s almost ironic that everything commenced with a remarkable event in California—a moment that felt as peculiar as a comet but, when you really think about it, seems out of place given the larger narrative.
This was the year the Indiana Hoosiers found themselves playing in the Rose Bowl. Yes, you read that right.
The IU football team, long regarded as an underachiever, had a history of failing to reach the Big Ten postseason destination in Pasadena. Back in 1947, an agreement was forged between the Big Ten—and what was then the Big Nine—and the Pacific Coast Conference, establishing a tradition of champions facing off in the Rose Bowl. The allure of escaping the wintry Midwest for a sunny vacation in Southern California became a cherished aspiration for Big Ten programs. Remarkably, nine schools enjoyed this privilege in the first 20 years of this tradition.
As you may have guessed, Indiana was among the ten squads that missed the boat, struggling to finish better than sixth in league rankings over those two decades. The beleaguered program tried to regain its footing in 1957, hiring Phil Dickens, previously a successful coach at Wyoming. Unfortunately, this led to some compliance violations, which earned the entire athletic department serious NCAA sanctions during the early 1960s. By the time new coach John Ponto stepped in, the team was in a downward spiral, culminating in a dismal 1-8-1 record in 1966.
However, against all odds, they clinched the Dunn Conference title the following year. Wait, what? The 1967 Hoosiers, dubbed the “Cardiac Kids,” managed to win seven nail-biting games. Comebacks against Kentucky and a trick play that led to a touchdown versus Iowa, plus stealing the Old Oaken Bucket from arch-rival Purdue, were just some highlights of an unexpected 9-1 season. This impressive record resulted in a rare three-way tie for the Big Ten title, but a “no repeat” rule meant they were left out of the Rose Bowl, as conference rival Purdue had gone the previous year. It was ironic, really, that Minnesota had made multiple trips to Pasadena while IU had never seen such glory.
Fast forward to New Year’s Day 1968. Indiana University stepped onto the grand stage of college football in California, facing off against the consensus national champions, USC. The Hoosiers’ fortune, however, waned quickly as they suffered a 14-3 defeat at the hands of the Trojans and Heisman Trophy winner O.J. Simpson—not that he would go on to be known for much else.
This moment in the California sun was fleeting for Indiana, which would soon find itself sinking back into the role of the Big Ten’s perennial underdog and eventually reeling in the title of the losingest program in college football history. The ’67 “Cardiac Kids” were a testament to the sport’s magic—witnessing a long-suffering team rise to realize a dream of playing at the iconic Rose Bowl alongside USC, achieving what many thought impossible.
Looking Forward
Now, as the Indiana Hoosiers gear up to enter the 2026 Rose Bowl as the top-ranked team, the landscape has shifted dramatically. They find themselves pitted against the historically dominant Alabama Crimson Tide. It’s hard to believe it, right?
Indiana’s remarkable turnaround over the past couple of years echoes their 1967 resurgence under new head coach Curt Chinetti. He took over a program that had barely managed a handful of winning seasons in thirty years. Strategic use of the transfer portal, solid player development, and effective coaching have propelled this team from a Big Ten basement dweller to a serious contender. Remarkably, Chinetti’s Hoosiers are achieving what they’ve always aspired to, with an impressive scoring margin this season.
Yet, there’s a hesitance to fully embrace the notion of the Hoosiers rivaling the traditional powerhouses of the sport. Such was the case in the Big Ten Championship Game against Ohio State, where Indiana faced off against last year’s national champions in a clash between two vastly different programs. The endings were dramatic—a narrow win for Indiana secured their first outright conference title in eighty years.
Along with their return to the Rose Bowl, Indiana secured a star transfer quarterback, Fernando Mendoza, who not only won the Heisman Trophy but is also being talked about as a likely No. 1 pick in the upcoming NFL Draft. In two short years, the once beleaguered program has turned things around spectacularly. Unlike the transient magic of the late ’60s teams, perhaps there’s a sustainable future for this group.
And just so you know, I’ve refrained from mentioning the “College Football Playoff”—mostly because I see them as a necessary evil. The system often feels frustrating, seemingly satisfying no one, and ends up overshadowing what should be celebrated in college football, including Indiana’s ascent.
The aforementioned Big Ten title game against Ohio State was not just another matchup; it was historic—a meeting of two undefeated powers. The thrill of that victory deserves to be celebrated extensively, yet it’s being dismissed as just a stepping stone on the way to a convoluted playoff system. This reality frustrates me, which is part of why I wanted to write about this. Indiana, at 13-0, is a powerhouse in the Rose Bowl, a scenario that feels like something out of a video game rather than real life. Fans who have wished for that moment in the sun can now witness it. The blend of ambition, coaching talent, and standout players is truly what college football is all about, and it’s essential we don’t lose sight of that essence.
